Electrical recorder utilizing a chemically-treated web

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a recorder and, more particularly, to apparatus arranged to receive electrical signals and convert them to visible indicia on a chemically-treated web, means being provided to prevent the drying of the web.

I United States Patent 1151 3,638,237 Alden 1 Jan. 25, 1972 [54] ELECTRICAL RECORDER UTILIZING References Cited A CHEMICALLY-TREATED WEB UNITED STATES PATENTS [721 Invent u Alden Needham Mass- 2,540,081 2/1951 Alden ..346/ll [73] Assignee: Alden Research Foundation, Brockton, 2-789-029 4/1957 Alden 5 346/74 Mass 2,867,492 1/1959 Horsman ..346/74 2,908,540 /1959 Bell ..346/74 1 F1199: Aug-15,1969 2,981,585 4/1961 Lower ..346/74 21 A LN 852 968 l 1 pp 0 Primary Examiner-Bernard Konick Related [1.5. Application D t Assistant ExaminerGary M. Hoffman A N .B d n [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 595,778, Nov. 21, 1966, ("mans ge abandoned. 57]

52 US. Cl ..346/145, 346/74 E, 346/101 This invention relates to a recorder more particularly, to [51] Int. Cl ..G0ld /06, GOld 15/20 apparatus arranged to receive electrical signals and convert [58] Field of Search ..346/74 E,74 ES, 74 CH, 74 S, h to visible in i on a chemically-treated m an 346/74 SB, 74 SC, 101,

being provided to prevent the drying ofthe web.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures zisa'azav PATENTED JAN25 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 N m L A N m M M PATENTED M425 1972 v 3538337 SHEET 8F '2 MILTON ALDEN 1N VENTOR.

The present application is a continuation of application,

Ser. No. 595,778, filed Nov. 21, 1966 and now abandoned.

It is well known in the communications field to transmit visual information by use of an electrical signal whose intensity is modulated. A chemically treated web of paper is passed between scanning electrodes on which the signal is impressed. In the most practical arrangements, the chemical is in liquid form and the web is impregnated with it. One of the important factors governing the resultant visual image on the web is the degree to which the web remains moist. For instance, when the recorder is idle between transmissions, the portion of the web between the roll and the electrodes is exposed to a drying atmosphere. To assure a satisfactory image at the time of the next transmission, it is necessary, before the transmission starts, for an attendant to pull the web through the apparatus until only the relatively moist web from the roll lies in the recordingarea. The dry portion so removed is not used for recording and is, therefore, wasted; in many situations, this means that (with intermittent transmission) as much as onehalf of the expensive web is wasted. In the case of unattended recorders, the visual image is inferior because the recording is almost always made on a portion of the web which has had an opportunity to dry out. Furthermore, in this last case a further difficulty is experienced where the transmissions are sporadic because the amount of drying is not uniform from one transmission to the next and variations in quality of the visual image result. Attempts have been made in the past to enclose the web to prevent evaporation of the solvent in the chemical, but the resultant constructions have always been complicated and expensive. This has militated against the use of such constructions in an inexpensive recorder. These and other difficulties experienced in the prior art devices have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide a recorder which has an effective but inexpensive arrangement for maintaining the recording web out of exposure to the atmosphere.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a compact recorder using a moist, chemically treated web, wherein the web is totally enclosed until recording has taken place.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a recorder in which the degree of moistness of the web is maintained uniform.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a recorder using a moist web in which the quality of recording does not vary, despite the intermittent arrival of transmissions.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a recorder in which a sealing means is provided whereby the web is totally enclosed until recording has been completed.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combina:

tion of parts set forth in the specification and covered by thev claims appended hereto.

The character of the invention, however, may be best understood by reference to one of its structural forms, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recorder embodying the principles of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a view of the recorder with the cover open,

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the recorder taken on the line III-III of FIG. I, and

FIG. 4 is an inclined sectional view of the recorder taken on the line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

Referring first to FIG. 1, wherein are best shown the general features of the invention, the recorder, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, is shown as consisting of a main body 11 to which is fastened a cover 12. The main body is provided with a bottom surface 13, a vertical rear surface 14, an upwardly and forwardly inclined top surface 15, and an upwardly and forwardly inclined front surface 16. It is also provided with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined front surface 17 against which the cover 12 lies and it is provided with vertical side surfaces 18 and 40 (see F IG. 4). The upper part of the cover 12 is provided with a window 19 within which can be seen a roller 21. Overlying the window 19 and fomiing one edge thereof is a latch bar 22.

FIG. 2 shows the recorder with the cover 12 in open, horizontal position. Extending along the side surface 18 of the main body is a recess 23 containing a drive transmission mechanism connected to a motor 20. At the bottom of the recess is a pinion gear 24 mounted on a horizontal shafi 25. Underlying the roller 21 is a scanning electrode 28. Located below the electrode 28 is a semicylindrical recess 32 adapted to carry a roll of chemically treated paper. This paper is of the type used in facsimile recording and, therefore, carries chemicals which provide a visible trace when electrical current is passed through the paper from one electrode to another.

Located on the inside of the cover 12 in a recess 30 is a support plate 33 on which is mounted an electrode 34. This electrode consists of a continuous band of metal provided with apertures 35 permitting it to be driven by a sprocket 36. Located within the loop of the electrode 34 is a pressure plate 37.

The cover 12 and its associated equipment is hingedly attached to the main body 11 by means of a horizontal hinge shaft 43. The sprocket 36 and, therefore, the electrode 34 is driven through this hinge shaft by the gear 24. As is evident in FIGS. 2 and 3, the paper tension plate 37 extends at a substantial angle to the plate 33, but is attached thereto in such away as to have a resilient action relative to the plate. The plate 33 is provided with a movable plate 59 (see FIG. 3) which carries the sprocket 36 and provides for adjustment.

Extending around the front surface 17 of the main body 11 is a ridge 26 formed integrally with the body; it consists of a lower portion 27 underlying the recess 42, a side portion 29 extending upwardly from one end of the lower portion, and a side portion 31 extending upwardly from the other end of the lower portion. Extending inwardly from the upper end of the side portion 29 is a portion 38. A similarly inwardly extending portion 39 is associated with the upper end of the side portion 31. A flexible seal 41 extends between the inner ends of the portions 38 and 39. The lower portion 27, the side portions 29 and 31, the inwardly extending portions 38 and 39, and the flexible seal 41 form a rectangular figure within which lies the recess 32 and the scanning electrode 28.

Associated with the inner surface of the cover 12 is a seal 42 consisting of a strip of elastomer material, such as Teflon, which engages the ridge 26 when the cover is closed. It is provided with a lower portion 44 which is approximately the same length as the lower portion 27 of the ridge 26 and is the same distance from the axis of the hinge shaft 43, so that the ridge embeds itself in the elastomer strip when the cover is closed. The seal 42 has a side portion 45 which engages the side portion 31 of the ridge; it also has a side portion 46 which contacts the side portion 29. Finally, the seal 42 has an upper portion 47 which extends across the inner surface of the cover 12 from the side portion 45 to the side portion 46 on a narrow dividing wall between the window 19 and the recess 30 in which the support plate 33 lies. Generally speaking, the seal 42 is rectangular and extends around the edge of the recess 30.

The operation of the apparatus will now be readily understood in view of the above description. In setting up the recorder, a roll of sensitized paper web 48 is placed in the recess 32 (see FIG. 3). It is threaded over the scanning electrode 28, over the roller 21a, and over the back surface 15 of the main body 11. The cover 12 is then closed, the fingers associated with the latch 22 snapping into recesses in the main body to hold it in place. When the motor 20 is energized, the electrodes 28 and 34 and the roller 210 are driven. The flow of electricity from the electrode 28 to the electrode 34 produces a visible message or diagram on the surface of the paper. Eventually, the paper is moved upwardly by the action of the roller 21a cooperating with the roller 21 in the cover, so that the message is exposed in the window 19.

The web 48 leaves the recess 32 and passes between the electrodes 28 and 34. A degree of back tension is produced because the roll in the recess 32 resists being unwound and is provided with a resilient mounting shaft that presses against the ends of the recess to promote a slight drag. The pressure plate 37 presses against the bight of the web between the roll and the electrodes. It passes between the upper portion 47 of the seal 42 on the cover and the resilient seal 41 on the main body as it passes from the electrodes to the rollers 21 and 21a. The web 48 is moist with its active electrosensitive chemical and it is important that the solvents and electrolytes do not dry out. For this purpose and in accordance with the present invention, it is totally enclosed in an airtight chamber until it has received a message and leaves under the action of the rollers. Along the side 18, the side portion 29 of the ridge 26 on the main body presses into the side portion 46 of the seal 42 on the cover. Similarly, along the side 40 the side portion 31 of the ridge 26 presses against the side portion 45 of the seal 42. At the bottom of the recorder the lower portion 27 of the ridge presses against the lower portion 44 of the seal 42. At the top of the recorder the chamber is sealed by the upper portion 47 of the seal 42 pressing against the web 48 and against the resilient seal 41; at the sides the portions 38 and 39 of the ridge 26 on the body press against the upper portion 47 of the seal 42 on the cover.

it can be seen, then, that the web 48 is totally enclosed until it passes between the seal 41 and the seal 47. Even after the web leaves the roll and passes out of the recess 32 it remains moist. When a pause occurs in reception of messages and the web lies exposed between the roll and the electrodes, it does not dry out. Therefore, when message reception is resumed, the electrochemical quality of the web is still at its optimum value and a good message is produced. There is, therefore, no difference in the quality of the visual image, irrespective of the fact that the period of time between messages varies by large amounts. This is particularly important where there is no operator present to assure that enough of the leading end of the web is pulled out to assure a moist web at the point of electrode activity. This makes the recorder particularly useful as a small, unattended unit for use in a company network, where it might be located at the desk of an executive who is often away from his desk. There is also a saving in cost of operation of the unit because it is not necessary to discard a dry leading end of the web in order to receive a good visual image.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. it is not, however, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A recorder for use with a chemically treated paper web comprising:

a. a main body;

b. a closed planar ridge portion on said main body bounding an area thereon;

c. a paper storage compartment located within the area bounded by the ridge portion of said main body;

d. a paper web stored in said compartment;

3. a recording apparatus located within the area bounded by the ridge portion of said main body adjacent to said paper storage compartment;

f. a cover overlying said paper storage compartment and said recording apparatus and adapted to be fastened to said main body;

g. sealing means in the form of a closed planar figure conforming in shape to that of the ridge portion of said main body, said sealing means being resilient and being adapted to yieldably conform to the shape of the ridge portion of said main body to effectively seal the area bounded thereby and to permit the exit therethrough of said paper web; and

h. driven rolls mounted externally of said sealing means and adapted to pull said paper web through said sealing means.

2. A recorder as recited in claim 1, wherein a window is provided in the cover adjacent the driven rolls and outside the area bounded by the ridge portion. 

1. A recorder for use with a chemically treated paper web comprising: a. a main body; b. a closed planar ridge portion on said main body bounding an area thereon; c. a paper storage compartment located within the area bounded by the ridge portion of said main body; d. a paper web stored in said compartment;
 3. a recording apparatus located within the area bounded by the ridge portion of said main body adjacent to said paper storage compartment; f. a cover overlying said paper storage compartment and said recording apparatus and adapted to be fastened to said main body; g. sealing means in the form of a closed planar figure conforming in shape to that of the ridge portion of said main body, said sealing means being resilient and being adapted to yieldably conform to the shape of the ridge portion of said main body to effectively seal the area bounded thereby and to permit the exit therethrough of said paper web; and h. driven rolls mounted externally of said sealing means and adapted to pull said paper web through said sealing means.
 2. A recorder as recited in claim 1, wherein a window is provided in the cover adjacent the driven rolls and outside the area bounded by the ridge portion.
 3. a recording apparatus located within the area bounded by the ridge portion of said main body adjacent to said paper storage compartment; f. a cover overlying said paper storage compartment and said recording apparatus and adapted to be fastened to said main body; g. sealing means in the form of a closed planar figure conforming in shape to that of the ridge portion of said main body, said sealing means being resilient and being adapted to yieldably conform to the shape of the ridge portion of said main body to effectively seal the area bounded thereby and to permit the exit therethrough of said paper web; and h. driven rolls mounted externally of said sealing means and adapted to pull said paper web through said sealing means. 